LTHForum.com

Yes, I know there’s no Dim Sum in Chicago that’s anywhere near as good as what they serve in Beijing or Hong Kong. Not even as good as what you can get in San Francisco or Vancouver, for that matter. Having said that, when I get a craving for dim sum and I don’t have a plane ticket in my pocket, there’s only one place that comes to mind, Shui Wah. Sure, Phoenix has the fancy cart service, but Shui Wah’s dim sum is cooked to order and always arrives at the table piping hot and fresh in an atmosphere that can border on controlled chaos when they get busy. I love the experience of going there.

Shui Wah Deep Fried Taro


Shui Wah Waterchestnut Cake


Besides being my favorite dim sum restaurant in Chicago, by night Shui Wah takes on a completely new identity as Chicago’s only(?) chiu-chow restaurant. At night, Shui Wah is manned by a completely different crew, down to the owner. Shui Wah has been a board favorite since day 1. It gets mentioned often and has several threads dedicated to it, like these:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=268867#p268867
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=40791#p40791
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=164136#p164136

There are many others. In fact, if you do a search for Shui Wah on LTH, there are 7 pages of results. There have also been several LTH Events there.

Shui Wah Salt & Pepper Squid (dim sum style)


I am very surprised that Shui Wah has never been nominated for a GNR…until now. I gladly nominate Shui Wah as a GNR. Just to be clear, I’m nominating Shui Wah on the strength of its dim sum offerings, not necessarily for its chiu-chow food at night, which I’ve only tried once and don’t feel qualified to comment on.



Shui Wah
2162 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8811

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

good nomination steve. I relaly liked my one and only visit to Shui Wah, and am planning a return visit for dim sum next month. the shrimp crepes are awesome

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I got a real good mind.

Before Cotton was King: http://www.grubseeker.blogspot.com

Shui Wah is my go to spot for dim sum for all the reasons laid out above. The squid is just spectacular.

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I used to think the brain was the most important part of the body. Then I realized who was telling me that.

Shui Wah is OK. I'd send an adventurous-feeling dimsum virgin from Wyoming there, if it were easy to get in. Does that pass eatchicago's test? Though I've only been there twice, I think Shui Wah's food pales in comparison to dimsum I've had in other cities, and does not stand out above other places in this city.

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...defended from strong temptations to social ambition by a still stronger taste for tripe and onions." Screwtape in The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis

Fuckerberg on Food

Hey the Chiu-Chow food can be pretty tasty too, but I think it's worth the GNR just for that excellent overhead camera shot. We have a GNR and a GNRP here.

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Think Yiddish, Dress British - Advice of Evil Ronnie to me.

The Local Beet's very big list of 2013 Farmer's Markets

Mr. Z - I'm going to need help with this one, and not only because I had 3:1 odds in Vegas on you nominating the Evanston Chicken Shack.

I think Shui Wah is great for dim sum, love the quirky, friendly weekend staff, and think it fills some of the gaping hole left by Hong Min. For dim sum only, I'd support it for a GNR.

But I've had several loathsome experiences in the evenings when the Other Family (anyone read Coraline?) is running the shop. It's then not at all the kind of place I think represents LTHForum, or one on which I'd like my imprimatur.

It's easy enough for people to figure what aspects of a place the forum is recommending from the certificate - walk past the shelves in Freddy's for the pizza, salads, breads, and gelato, grab the pizza at Marie's over the hamburgers and package goods, no need to spend a ton of time in the aisles at La Unica. But how does certification work at a place run by two families with totally different priorities, experiences, and chefs? A motorized flip-over menu like breakfast at McDonald's (certificate only faces out during dim sum hours?) A note in the pocket guide and site list that the endorsement only applies during certain times? I'd be genuinely interested in the proposal, since it's not completely clear what you're recommending (thread title cites both halves of the operation, but you then mention you are looking for direction from others on the night half).

Again, a cool and challenging nomination, and I'll take Shui Wah over anyplace else for dim sum currently. The salt and pepper squid and barbecue pork* crepes are GNR dishes if I've ever had any.

*in reviewing my own history of comments on Shui Wah, my comments on how much I like their char siu all relate to morning experiences in bao / crepes / small plates. The one place I mention a whole bone-in Shui Wah duck, I actually meant Sun Wah, mea culpa.

This is a unique situation where two restaurants share a name and a storefront and nothing else. I'd want the certificate to read Shui Wah Dim Sum. I suppose that would take the guesswork out of it.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

I'm with Steve. Lacking a plane tix, Shui Wah fixes my dim sum jones. I enjoy numerous items there very much and agree that it should have GNR status.

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"In pursuit of joys untasted"
from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

Shui Wah is my favorite Dim Sum destination, 'nuf said. Okay, nice pix, too.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

I'm a long time fan of both Shui Wah and Steve Z's photos, thumbs up for both!

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Sauce on the side, always, implied, axiomatic..........never a doubt, BBQ sauce without.

Low & Slow

I always enjoy the hot and fresh dim sum at Shui Wah and it's my favorite dim sum spot in Chicago (but I need Hong Min to return). Maybe not the most expansive selection of dim sum I have seen, but what they offer I like quite a bit and I support the nomination.

Count me as a fan. Shui Wah is definitely my go-to place for dim sum. The salt and pepper squid is, obviously, a highlight.

Affirmed.

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-Josh

An amuse bouche at breakfast is called a Bloody Mary - Scott Manlin

the shrimp crepe I mentioned upthread, I have been craving this dish since the meal I had there. pretty much daily.





I also like the the deep fried taro, the shrimp dumplings, and the sticky rice in lotus leaf.


edited for spelling

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I got a real good mind.

Before Cotton was King: http://www.grubseeker.blogspot.com

I don't know. Don't get me wrong, we go there sometimes and enjoy it. I just don't ever crave it. I do often crave dim sum and then it comes down to picking among Shui Wah/Phoenix/Happy Chef. It's not obviously better than the others. It is among the better dim sum in the city, although as opening statement in the nomination seems to acknowledge, that does not mean it is among the better dim sum in the North America or beyond. Seems to me I should really want to go to a GNR and, for me, Shui Wah does not meet that standard. It's competent dim sum. I don't think it's more than that.

Jim,

You know there's a BBQ pork version of those as well, don't you?

Shui Wah BBQ Pork Chow Fun

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

nice pic steve, thanks for making me crave these crepes even more.

I saw the bbq pork version on the menu, and that will be had along with an order of the shrimp version on my next visit which is coming up in a couple weeks

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I got a real good mind.

Before Cotton was King: http://www.grubseeker.blogspot.com

While I have yet to visit Shui Wah, my wife has asked me to offer her full support for this nomination

Shui Wah is her favorite dim sum in Chicago by virtue of both quality and great value. I'd say she makes it there for dim sum once every 3-4 weeks - it is a regular lunch spot for her with co-workers when working a half-day on a Saturday or Sunday. She has definitely enjoyed checking out many a GNR with me since discovering LTHforum, and feels Shui Wah deserves to be added to the pantheon.

I support this. Fine, you can find better dim sum in other towns. And not every dish is spectacular. But I do crave the Chiu Chow dumplings, xian shui jiao, and S&P squid. The vegetable crepes and turnip cakes are quite nice, as well. And, they take tea seriously. This is important, people!

This place is up for renewal of its GNR. Please post your comments here until 10/10/11.

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Steve Z.
Photographer/Pseudojournalist

"The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook." - Julia Child

Every once in a while I'm convinced to go elsewhere for dim sum (usually for the novelty of steam carts for the benefit of a first dim sum-er), and I always regret not pushing harder to go to Shui Wah. Hot, fresh, and cooked-to-order, the quality is always high, even if the selection leaves a bit to be desired. The atmosphere is always jovial and bustling, packed tightly with families around the tables for a big shared meal. Oh, and it's always embarassingly cheap.

I wish Chicago had a more vibrant and varied dim sum scene, but given our options, Shui Wah comes out on top for me.

-Dan

Agreed and agreed. Yes on renewal.

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"In pursuit of joys untasted"
from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

I have only two things to add to Dan's post - first, my agreement, and second the mildest of demurrals. I do think Shui Wah's congee is pretty much world class, nice selection (yes, there are places in Hong Kong that offer a full page of congee choices, but since I cannot read whichever version of Chinese they use, I am hard pressed to appreciate those options), and all around excellent. Yes, the overall selection is limited, but the congee is varied and wonderful.

I also am taken elsewhere from time to time, but always return to Shui Wah. And let's not forget how dirt cheap the prices are. Whoever gets the bill always does a double take since we eat so much, so well, and the price is well under $10 per person.

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d
Retired, gone fishing, and exploring my curmudgeon within

There is a fully homemade quality to so many dishes on the dim sum menu you don't find elsewhere, and I could eat a small stratovolcano of the simple, perfect calamari. Just don't go for dinner.